I had this arguement before, but i still cant resolve it even though i made a research on it. Cynical could mean alot of things, but their meanings are somewhat contradictory at the same time conforming, AAah! which is which? it like saying "What im telling you righ now is a lie, if its tru its fase if its false its true, true or false?"
2006-10-31 03:22:29 · 13 answers · asked by zheekuli 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Well, I think of cynical as being pessimistic, skeptical and bitter. The opposite of romantic or idealistic. A person becomes cynical once they've been disappointed (in love, in their dreams etc.) They stop believing the best and start expecting the worst. They don't really trust anyone or anything. They are jaded and sarcastic. It may be a defense mechanism for dealing with a cold world that's full of disappointment & cruelty.
I can be cynical sometimes yet I'm still a romantic. It can be a tough balance! Believing the best, expecting the worst I plunge in & see what happens. What else can I do?
2006-10-31 03:40:37 · answer #1 · answered by amp 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
A true cynic has to be very experienced other wise they are just afraid or skeptic. To analyze is fine but to be a cynic stems from a large amount of negativity that has happened to them in their life. To where they have no faith in success or their fellow man. some people are known to fear success, because everytime they were excited about receiving something for their efforts they failed. So in essence they feel more comfortable in believing everything and everyone will fail them so they wont be disappointed or hurt. It is a way of self preservation or self defense against what ever it is that they fear. An inevitably if they are successful they will still be a cynic and keep wondering about what bad is going to happen to take it away or compile some excuse of why that the positive happened to them instead of the negative they will call it a fluke. They are in denial and certainly not objective in their thinking process.
2006-10-31 15:29:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Truly a Cynic???
The "cynics" of ancient Grecian philosophy were a totally different sort of person than the meaning ascribed today;
they held that "to thine own self be true" was the only good...
I'm condensing and paraphrasing for brevity-this is not the place to go into all the details of the Cynics school of thought...
they felt that retrospection, loyalty to one's own individualism, self denial were essential ...
therefore....as a person who holds his own individual rights above those of the city....as is true with most other Greek philosophers of that time....they would bark like dogs at the people they felt were behaving like herd animals....and thence the name...
the Greek word for "bark(ing)" is -in English- "Cynic"
so...if you were to be a self improving, self aware, self critical person....loyal to your beliefs, holding truth and justice the ultimate good....then you would be well on your way to being a
true "cynic"
2006-10-31 04:57:49 · answer #3 · answered by Gemelli2 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well , i went to the dictionary on this one , and a person who sarcastically sneers at humanity has no doubt had bad experiences with humanity . I don't think people are born that way . I think it's root cause is bitterness. And bitterness is like gum in the carpet . The best way to understand any subject concerning people ,is to observe them . What you see and hear when you meet a cynical person is the correct definition .
2006-10-31 03:45:31 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
cyn·i·cal (sn-kl) KEY
ADJECTIVE:
Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; skeptical of the motives of others: a cynical dismissal of the politician's promise to reform the campaign finance system.
Selfishly or callously calculating: showed a cynical disregard for the safety of his troops in his efforts to advance his reputation.
Negative or pessimistic, as from world-weariness: a cynical view of the average voter's intelligence.
Expressing jaded or scornful skepticism or negativity: cynical laughter.
your question can twist someone's brain. congratulations! lol.
2006-10-31 03:27:49 · answer #5 · answered by Ginnykitty 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Cynical is bitterness at life. One who is a cynic is usually so bitter that they come off as a jerk when really they're just so disillusioned that they speak the brutal truth all the time. We all know the world sucks. These people just aren't afraid to confront it. Take it from a proffesional cynic-me. :)
2006-10-31 05:15:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
If you label a person 'CYNICAL'.. then YOU are classifying them as CYNICAL. Therefore, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO ULTIMATELY MAKES THEM CYNICAL. NOT 'MAKES' IN THE LITERAL SENSE OBVIOUSLY.
2006-11-01 13:34:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cynicism is borne of fear. It is so destructive because it prevents letting go and embracing things.
2006-10-31 03:28:13 · answer #8 · answered by slippped 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The person who judges and calls a another person cynical, is what makes a person cynical. hmm...
:0
2006-10-31 03:42:04 · answer #9 · answered by lady from the other day 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Bitterness is the root of cynicism.
2006-10-31 03:34:15 · answer #10 · answered by just nate 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋